The Online Resource for Massachusetts Poverty Law Advocates

FoodSNAP's Blog

The latest information on SNAP/ Food Stamp advocacy in Massachusetts.

Heads Up: DTA's Assistance Line and SAO Lines are down right now

Wed, 09/16/2020 - 2:21pm -- FoodSNAP
We just received notice of this problem.  Please keep track of any urgent client issues (e.g. persons cut off, emergency applications not being processed) and report them to the Ombuds Office. 
 
Note - DTAConnect is still operating. DTA clients can communicate with DTA by writing a note and uploading it to DTA Connect if need be. And BEACON is operational, so SNAP and cash workers are presumably still able to  process cases, but the DTA Assistance Line and Senior Assistance Office (SAO) phone lines are BOTH DOWN. 

National Call-In Day & other important updates

Wed, 09/16/2020 - 10:51am -- FoodSNAP
hanks again for a robust turnout to Tuesday’s SNAP Coalition meeting. HUGE thanks to DTA for their work to secure pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for students for September, as well as their ongoing work to provide the SNAP emergency allotment again for September (which will be issued around 10/2). 

TODAY is National Call-In Day to Urge Action for Comprehensive COVID-19 Package Before Congress Adjourns!

SNAP Coalition tomorrow and LTEs from Central MA to #BoostSNAPNow and MA Food Systems follow up survey

Mon, 09/14/2020 - 3:21pm -- FoodSNAP

We hope you had a relaxing Labor Day weekend and are geared up for the battles ahead, including making sure Congress does not leave town without a robust package to fund extending Unemployment, SNAP boost and state and local aid.  Please join us for Coalition tomorrow.  Here’s some updates. 

#BoostSNAPNow campaign continues:

SNAP Updates including Hunger Action Day and Virtual Town Hall TODAY, 3 PM with Congressman McGovern

Thu, 09/10/2020 - 11:41am -- FoodSNAP

Thank you all for your social media and calls to the MA Congressional Delegation yesterday. KEEP IT UP!  We are alerting you to some important events today. 

Hunger Action Day today, September 10th

Attached is the Greater Boston Food Bank alert on Hunger Action Day.  All the nation’s food banks are rallying around Hunger Action Month during September.  We urge you to reach out to family, friends and neighbors and urge them to take action THIS WEEK!

SNAP Coalition Zoom call info for tomorrow, Sept 1!

Mon, 08/31/2020 - 2:51pm -- FoodSNAP
It is hard to believe tomorrow is September 1! We will have a SNAP Coalition Zoom meeting tomorrow, 9/1 at 10 AM. We plan to have an hour long call, but announcements may take a few additional minutes. The agenda will include:
  • Federal update - action steps on a coronavirus package to #BoostSNAPnow, info on child nutrition / school meal waivers, etc. 

August supplemental SNAP, recerts by phone, MA unemployment rate news & call to action

Wed, 08/26/2020 - 11:51am -- FoodSNAP
We hope that you have been able to take some time off to rejuvenate with family and friends this August or in the weeks to come. As always, we greatly appreciate ALL the work you are doing in Massachusetts and your local communities to make sure families can put food on the table and to push Congress to #BoostSNAPnow. There is a lot going on, so we are planning to have a Coalition Zoom meeting next Tuesday, 9/1 at 10 AM - please keep the date and time on your calendars, and stay tuned. In the meantime, a few updates below. 
 

SNAP updates: Auto replacement for outages; EBT card issuance, college students, immigrant households and more!

Fri, 08/21/2020 - 12:06pm -- FoodSNAP

In follow up to Tuesday’s SNAP Coalition meeting, there are important updates we’d like to share.  In terms of a “perfect storm” of challenges, in early August many parts of MA suffered extensive power outages in early August; the $600/week federal pandemic unemployment stopped, and DTA received over 23,000 SNAP applications the first two weeks of August.  

SNAP Coalition Zoom Agenda 8/18; Extension on SNAP Replacement Benefits and Troubleshooting SNAP/Unemployment Comp cases

Mon, 08/17/2020 - 1:40pm -- FoodSNAP

We have important updates on both SNAP replacement benefits and denied SNAP applications due to DTA erroneously counting $600/week federal pandemic unemployment (FPUC).  Also below, the SNAP Coalition Agenda and Zoom call in information.

Replacement SNAP benefits.  More time to report loss of food SNAP due to Storm Isaias

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